A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins, including placement of manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in § 96-7. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the Township Administrator and may include, but not be limited to, plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions, and elevations of the area in question; existing or proposed structures, fill, storage of materials, drainage facilities; and the location of the foregoing. Specifically, the following information is required:

Review all development permits in the coastal high hazard and Coastal
A Zone area of the area of special flood hazard to determine if the
proposed development alters sand dunes or other natural coastal protections
so as to increase potential flood damage.

Use of other base flood and floodway data. When base flood elevation and floodway data has not been provided in accordance with § 96-7, Basis for establishing areas of special flood hazard, the Township Administrator shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source, in order to administer § 96-17A, Specific standards, residential construction, and § 96-17B, Specific standards, nonresidential construction.

Obtain and record the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level)
of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new or substantially
improved structures, and whether or not the structure contains a basement.

In coastal high hazard and Coastal A Zone areas, certification shall be obtained from a registered professional engineer or architect that the provisions of § 96-19B(1) and § 96-19B(2)(a) and § 96-19B(2)(b) are met.

Notify adjacent communities and the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, Dam Safety and Flood Control Section and the Land Use
Regulation Program prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse,
and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance
Administration.

Record and maintain the flood and nonflood damage of substantial
damage structures and provide a letter of substantial damage determination
to the owner and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
Dam Safety and Flood Control Section.

Interpretation of FIRM boundaries. Make interpretations where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazards (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions). The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in § 96-15.

The Construction and Code Enforcement Board shall hear and decide
appeals when it is alleged there is an error in any requirement, decision,
or determination made by the Township Administrator in the enforcement
or administration of this chapter.

In passing upon such applications, the Construction and Code Enforcement
Board shall consider all technical evaluations, all relevant factors,
standards specified in other sections of this chapter, and:

The costs of providing governmental services during and after
flood conditions, including maintenance and repair of public utilities
and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems,
and streets and bridges.

Upon consideration of the factors of § 96-15A(4) and the purposes of this chapter, the Construction and Code Enforcement Board may attach such conditions to the granting of variances as it deems necessary to further the purposes of this chapter.

Generally, variances may be issued for new construction and substantial improvements to be erected on a lot of one-half acre or less in size contiguous to and surrounded by lots with existing structures constructed below the base flood level, providing items (a) through (k) in § 96-15A(4) have been fully considered. As the lot size increases beyond the one-half acre, the technical justification required for issuing the variance increases.

Variances may be issued for the repair or rehabilitation of historic
structures upon a determination that the proposed repair or rehabilitation
will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a
historic structure and the variance is the minimum necessary to preserve
the historic character and design of the structure.

A determination that the granting of a variance will not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety, extraordinary public expense, create nuisances, cause fraud on or victimization of the public as identified in § 96-15A(4) or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances.

Any applicant to whom a variance is granted shall be given written
notice that the structure will be permitted to be built with a lowest
floor elevation below the base flood elevation and that the cost of
flood insurance will be commensurate with the increased risk resulting
from the reduced lowest floor elevation.